Beer dispensing apparatus



T. A. HUTSELL BEER DISPENSING APPARATUS March 1, 1938.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1955 #wW ATTORN EYS 117.1 2/ 22 hom 1$ i fiuisefl ,A. HUTSELL 2,110,043

BEER DISPENSING APPARATUS March 1, 1938.

Filed Jan. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS March 1, 1938. T. A. HUTSELL V BEER DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 26, 1935 Eta-E5211 NTOR INVE homaiffl March 1, 1938. T. A. HUTSELL BEER DISPENSING APISARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,110,043 BEER. DISPENSING APPARATUS Thomas A. Hutsell, Seattle, Wash. Application January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,660

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to a beer dispensing apparatus.

The accurate measuring and proper handling of gas-charged liquids has long been a perplexing problem. There are many. liquids which it becomes necessary to measure accurately but which, becauseof their gas content, effervesce or foam and interfere with the accurate measurementof the same. One of the most outstanding of this class of liquids is beer, used as a beverage.

.In the past, when dispensing beer at a bar, it

has been customary to draw the liquid into a glass, then when an estimated amount had been drawn in, the liquid was allowed to come to rest. The amount of foam then. formed was the function, largely, of the character of the beer itself, and varied from time totime. If the judgment of the bartender was not correct the glass was either short in measurement, or an excess was provided which would run over the rim of the glass and be wasted. A further waste is occasionedby the necessity of wiping off the top of theglass, usually with a stick and then wiping oil the outside of the glass, as with a cloth, before offering the beverage to customers. This system has been either wasteful or did not give the customer full measure. It also slowed up the dispensing of beer and over-run glasses required additional time for. cleaning the outside, if the beer was to be presented in an appetizing manner. It is further well known that there is a definite relationship between the amount of gas, as for instance carbon dioxide, that beer will retain in solution and the temperature of the same, the lower the temperature 'the less tendency to liberate the contained gas; Now, quite often it is not possible for the retailer of such beverages to keep his keg, or barrels of beer, at sufliciently low a temperature to retain the gases in solution. With the usual typeof dispensing means it is therefore necessary in such cases to relieve the pressurethus created and a large proportion, of the gas is thuslost. Under such conditions it is quite common for the lower portion of the keg to have lost such a large percentage of the included gas as to become what is commonly known as stale, or flat, With my present device it is possible to dispense beer, under absolute control even though the temperature or pressure may be higher than that commonly met in'practice. This means that the included gas is not lost and the beer is thus delivered to the consumer in the same condition as when it left the brewery.

. Further, I provide means which will accurately measure the desired amount of beerina glass,

or container, in its natural state Without any foam being formed, then by suitable means the desired amount of foam may be produced from the measured quantity of beer inthe customers container, or glass. This characteristic makes 5 it possible for my device to accurately measure the beverage so that each customer has the positive assurance that he is getting full measure paid for, then from the standpoint of appearance the desired amount of foam can be produced from that measured quantity of beer, with the assurance that a uniform head can be provided on each glass and, further, that this head can be varied according to the will of the operator by merely making a slight adjustment in the device. I further have provided means which will enable my device to deposit the beverage, or whatever liquid is so measured, into the service container, or glass. Further, my device provides for a large range of container capacities and shapes. My 20 present device further provides that the operator need merely operate the control handle and the beer, or other liquid, will be automatically measured and recorded by the device, so that at the end of the day the number of servings will be a matter of record.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein 3 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a dispenser made after the teachings of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the head of my device,certain parts being shown in section to better illustrate its construction.'

Figure 4 is a top plan view of my device with the enclosing cover broken away and shown in section.

- Figure 5 is a fragmentary-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6'---liof Fig-. ure 1.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along 5 line 'l'l of Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary views showing the'sequence of operation of my dispensing device. 50

Figure 12 is a cross-sectionalview taken along the line l2|2 of Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line l3-I3 of Figure 3.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the 55 crank arm used for opening my beer dispensing valve.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, l4

designates the supporting frame of my device.

This I prefer to form of pressed metal in that maximum rigidity for a given weight can thus be obtained. This is provided with a plurality of beaded studs l6 which are adapted to engage a fixed support I! by some suitable means, as the bayonet slots l 8, thus permitting easy removal I of the device from the fixed support,

Suitably secured to frame I4 is the adjustable glass carriage 20. This is provided with a glass support bracket 2|, preferably covered with some resilient material 22. Frame i4 is further provided with a plurality. of teeth 23, which may take the form of a rack, or ratchet teeth. Adapted to engage the teeth, for adjustment purposes, is a rack of similar tooth form 24. Back 24 is fixedly secured tofcarriage 20 and may be locked in engagement 'with'rac'k' 23 bymeans of'the ec- Icentri'c pawl'le'ver 25. The same is shown in l1 isjthe distributor head 28. This head ac-.

co j modatesj the beer supply line. 29 and the gas supply line 30'. Different types'of beverages, or

,other liquids might'requlrediflerent gases, for

beer carbon dioxide is probably the most desirable,

1 yet air is normally used'because' of the cost of i other gases;* Lines 29 and 30 lead to the fixed head of my device This head is referred to generally bvt reference a e qu 1 34 and 38,;respectively, are'operated by means a plurality. .of' units each of which-performs a definite function the measuring and dispensing cycle;

"Referring particularly to 3, s ahd12:

.The beer supplyfline communicates with cham-.

ber 33 below'which is positioned a valve 34 which,

when openedfpermit's the flowlof beer down through bore"35' and out'ithrou'gh orifice36. Orifice 36 is formed in a s p-on Cap member. I have found it most desirable to make this of resilient material so that the cap may be quickly and conveniently changed. Thisis' desirable when appreciablewear or deterioration occurs but, more particularly when ltis desired to change the air space inthe top of the glass, after it-is filled-with been It willnaturally follow that the greater the massof cap'3'l theless-'will be the a space available for air and foam when a glass of beeris drawn. Disposed adjacent valve 34 is the gas valve 38 which, when opened, admits gas from chamber 38 and,-in turn, from'tube 30 into the glass or dispensing chamber. The man'- ner of operating these valves, however, is identical. It consists of an enlarged valve stem 40 which is secured in arubber disc 4|, The disc, inturn being seatedbetween members 42 and 1 43 of the head proper and prevents any leakage around the valve stem. The discs 4| tend to normally close valves 34 andj Band are so arranged that they are under a certain degree of tension when the valve is closed, substantially as indicated in Figure 5. Theseating force on valves 34 and 38 is further augmented by the fluid pressure of the beer and gas, respectively, which normally forked operating handle T0.

circling tube 1|.

a part of, a bell crank having a hub portion 50,

and an upwardly extending lever 5| which is operated to introduce the beer to the glass, or

container; Lever 41 is part of the bell crank having the hubportion 52 and the upwardly extending arm 53. Lever 53 has a sidewardly extending portion 54 to which is pivotably secured pawl member 56. This assembly controls the introduction of gas into the glass, or container.

' 'L'ev'er' 46. further serves to actuate lever 58 which is pivotably supported at 59. It serves to actuate the-tabulatorill-so that each complete cycle of the dispenser will be recorded.

, Tostopthe' inflow of liquid, when it has reached the desired upward extent,'I provide a check valve 62. This valve is adapted to close a vent or release passageway 63; Valve 62 ismounted in a light float, in the illustrations I have indicated a cork float 64, so' that when'the level of the liquid has raised sufiiciently to float 64 it will seal the valve62 bycarrying the-same upwardly to its seat in head32; Thegas flow through passageway 63 isradjustably controlled by a needle valve65 so arranged that it obstructs passageway 63 and may be adjusted atextremes, so as to either close it or open it fully. -Theexternal discharge of passage 63 1s indicated at 66. For convenience it has been'found desirable tograduate the finger k b I of valve165. 3 r 1 1 Levers5l and 53 which, in turn, operate valves shown in its operating cycle'in Figures 8, 9, 10

and 11. 'A through shaft is provided which is flatt'enedor otherwise deformed so as to provide a secure non-rotatable "engagement with the v Encircling shaft 68 is a hollow shaft II which is deformed in a manner to preveht rotation on shaft 68; Secured by the'tube deformation, onjeach of its ends,

are twoarms 12'and'13, respectively. Arm 13 carries a relatively'short'cylinder at its extreme end, as, whereas arm 12 carriesa longer cylinder 15. .The upper casting 16 of the head assembly forms the supporting 'means for the head and also the journal for shaft 68 and the en-' Disposed over each end of shaft 68, but in a 5 manner to at all times clear the same, are slot cam members'18 and 19" each having a slot 80.

and serve as a connecting means between the glass support assembly and the operating cylin- Gets, or cranks, "and 15 which are positioned within slots 80. A downwardly extending slot 81 I is provided enabling the slot jcam members to straddle shaft 68 and also provides a bearing for the same against transverse displacement when the slot cams are in their'u'pward positions.

Referring to'Figure 12 reference is had to a after the showing, of Figure 12. A raised contact lug 81 ,isprovided so that the period of depression of lever ,85 will be of but short duration and easily timed. When lever 85 depresses valve 83 a] ventingis provided through vent .82 out throughbrifice, 88 to which, if desired, a pipe 99 may be secured. [The purpose of this vent is to carry away the-air exhaust and any ericesslfoam which might be created within themeasuring chamber, or glass, 90.

M ethod of operation In operating my device the dispensing glass, or vessel, 90, is placed upon tray 2| with lever 10 in the position indicated in Figure 2. The next operation is to draw the ball handle of lever 10 toward the operator, or toward the left as shown in Figure 2. The head mechanism is in the position indicated in Figure 3, with the slotted cam members 80 at their lowest position. As shaft 68 is revolved by action of handle 10, cranks 12 and 13 raise cylinders I4 and 15, after the principles of cam followers, to engage the upper surface of slot 80. This raises the glass and glass supporting assembly upwardly, guidedby studs l6, until the glass contacts the resiliently supported disc 9|. This disc is preferably a metal disc encased in rubber, after the showings, particularly, of Figures and 12. Resiliency is further provided by a plurality of coil compression springs 92 which tend to hold disc 9| away from head 32. The upward movement of the glass, however, compresses the springs and, when the cylinders 14 and 15 are at the zenith of their movement, after the showing of Figure 12, the glass is securely held in an air tight manner against plate 9|. A further movement of the handle causes cylinder 1,5 to engage lug 56. While lug 56 is pivoted to arm 54 it is held against movement to the left by stop 93. This causes a displacement of arm 53 and, through the mechanism connected thereto, causes an opening of valve 38. This admits to glass 90, gas under pressure.

the area of plate 91 is considerably greater than Inasmuch as be a pressure somewhat lower than the pressure upon the beer which will later be introduced into the glass. This pressure is normally dependent upon temperatures, it being well known that the lower the temperature the more easily is the included gas retained in the liquid. The actual pressure is, normally, somewhere between 5 and 35 pounds per square inch. The differential between the gas and beer pressures need not, normally, be very great, two or three pounds sufflclng, an increase in this differential causing the beer to come into the chamber faster and its decrease to retard the'flow somewhat, until if the pressures were equal there would be no flow. Where outside pressure is applied to the keg this same pressure may be applied to the container and the differential in. pressure, or drop, below the beer pressure is providedby the controlled gas escape past valve 62.

The next step is illustrated in Figure 9 wherein cylinder 15 has begun to decline and so avoid further contact with pawl 56. This closes the air or gas line. A continuation of the handle movement causes cylinder 14 which is coaxially disposed at all times with cylinder 15, to engage lever 5|. This action acting through lever 46 opens the beer valve and the beer continues to run into the glass as long as the handle is held in this position, until the glass is filled.

ing 66, asdesired, or as found necessary by the operator. In some instances the opening 66 may communicate with a closed chamber to which excess pressure of gas may pass from passage 63, to be conserved for future use. However, as the glass becomes filled the buoyancy of float 84 carries valve 62 upwardly until the vent is closed. With the vent closed the pressure soon builds up in the glass so that no more beer can flow into the same.

It is desired to point out that the control of this escaping gas, considering the differential in pressure between the gas and beer lines to remain constant, controls the rate at which the beer is deposited into the glass. In other words it determines the turbulence of the beer and this determines the amount of foam that will be produced on the beer when the same is subjected to atmospheric pressure.

Assuming the glass to be filled with beer and the further flow arrested it is desirable to relieve the pressure in the glass before opening the glass to atmospheric pressure; I provide a satisfactory method by having cylinder 15 in its return movement contact lug 81 thus opening valve 83 and permitting the pressure within the glass to be relieved, as out through tube 89. A continued movement of handle lowers the glass away from plate 9| returning it to the position shown in Figure 2 where the beer is ready for serving.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims. I

I claim:

1. The combination in a liquid dispensing apparatus with a head, dispensing means in the head and an operating lever therefor, a discharge nozzle rigid with the lower exterior face of the head, a sealing plate surrounding the nozzle and having a resilient mounting on said face, and an upright support, of a vertically reciprocable frame mounted on the support, a holder disposed beneath the nozzle and laterally of the frame, and co-acting means including a crank arm operable with the lever and a slotted portion of the frame for lifting said holder and a container carried thereby to close the mouth of the con-' tainer against the sealing plate.

2. The combination in a liquid dispensing apparatus with a head and its support, dispensing means in said head, and an operating lever for said means, of a vertically reciprocable frame mounted on the support and rack teeth on said frame, a rack bar associated with the frame for engagement with said teeth, a cam locking lever pivoted on the rack bar for engagement with the frame to engage the rack bar and rack teeth, and co-acting means on the lever and frame for elevating the frame and a holder carried by the rack bar.

3. The combination in a liquid dispensing ap- .4 I iaratua with a head and its support dispensing means in the head, an operating lever, and spaced crank arms rotatable with the lever, oi a ver-' ticaiiy reciprocableirame having'slots for coaction with said crank arms and mounted on the support, an auxiliary support including a holder mounted on the frame, and co-acting means on the amdliary'supp rt and frame for locking the former on the latter. v

4. The combination in a liquid dispensing apparatus with a hea'djand its support,'dispensing means in the head, an operating iever'an'd spaced crank arm's rotatable with the lever, 01' a vertically reciprocableirame having slots for cor THOMAS A. HUTSEIL. 

